Method and apparatus for performing gauging and reproducing operations



A g- 1944- L. E. M. VAN DEN Kl EBOOM 2,355,133

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING GAUGING AND. REPRODUCING OPERATIONSFiled April 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTOR/VZ' x Z 60/? EM Valrde/zX/bhu/li,

22, 1944- L. E. M. VAN DEN KIEBOOM 2,356,133

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING GAUGING AND REPRODUCING OPERATIONSFiled April 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm H N NK R wd r Patented Aug. 22,1944 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORM- ING GAUGING AND REPRODUCINGOPERA- TIONS Leon E. M. Van den Kieboom, Semeac, near Tarbes, France;vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application April 21, 1942,Serial No. 439,950 In- France April 15,1941

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus of the kind used:for performing gauging and reproducing operations, that is to say forchecking the shapes or at least the dimensions of existing-pieces or forreproducing these pieces inaccordance witha standard piece of apredetermined shape and. size.

The chief object of the present-invention is to provide a method andapparatus of the kind above mentioned Which is better adapted to meetthe requirements of practice than those used for the same purpose up tothe present time, espeoiallyv concerning the simplicity and-easeofoperation and the accuracy to-obtain.

According to a :featureof the present invention, I make use of aplurality of elements carried "by a. common support and adjustable withrespect thereto under accurately determined geometrical. conditions,preferably in suchmanner that all of these elements are displaced by thesame amount every time an adjustment operation. is performed, the wholebeing devised in such manner as to constitute gauging or reproducingdevices in: which the above mentioned elements, which can easily bechanged, constitute touchsurfacesadapted to come into contact with thesurfaces to be tested, thatis to say to be gauged or tobereproduced.

According to another feature of the present invention, in a method ofthekind above referred to,.making use of a. plurality of elementsadapted to come into. contact with the surfaces to be tested, I disposethese elements in suchmanner that they .can be distributed, at least atthree points, over the inner or outer periphery of said surfaces.

According. to another feature of the present invention, concerning alsoa method of the kind above referredto in which -a plurality of elements,or touch parts, are used, in particular for testing. outer surfaces,such as screw threads, in order to perform the preliminary machining ofthe active surfaces of said elements, I fix them upon .asupportinangular positions corresponding exactly to the positions theyare to occupy for the testing operation, but I turn them in such amanner as to. facilitate the machining, that is to say, in particular,in such manner that said surfaces to be machined are turned outwardlywith respect to their support.

According to another feature of the present invention, concerningmethods of the type-above mentioned making use of several elements ortouch surfaces-at: least one of-which-is adjustable, in order .totransmit the movement tosaid element I have recourse to aslidingdisplacement of plane surfaces inclined with respectto i the directionof the effort that istransmitt'ed.

According to still another'feature of the invention, concerning methodsmaking use of touch surfaces, I arrange these surfaces in such mannerthat their body is located, in working. position, obliquely with respectto the longitudinal axis of the piece (such for instance as a screw) tobe tested.

Other features of the present invention will result from the followingdetailed description of some specific embodiments thereof.

Preferred embodiments of thepresent invention will be hereinafterdescribed'with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely byway of example, and inwhich: I

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of 'adevice for carrying out the methodaccording to the present invention for the testing of anexternalscrewthread, this device itself being made according to the presentinvention;

Fig. 2is an axial sectionalvi'ew corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view onthe line III-III of Fig. 2; e

Fig. 4. is a view, similar to Fig. 1, of a device according to thepresent invention and adapted to be used for the testing of internalscrewthreads;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing an arrangement according to theinvention to be'used for the machining of elements such as those used astouch parts in the devicesof Figs; 1- to4 Fig. 6 isa side viewcorresponding toFi'g; 5;

Fig. 7 isa view, partly in el'evation' and partly in axial section, ofadevice of the kind of that of Figs; 1 to 3 made according toanotherembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a partial view'showing, in axial section, a deviceof'the samekind-as that of Fi 7, for the gauging of internal surfaces, such asbores;

Fig. 9 isa diagrammatic elevationalview'of a device accordingto-theinvention for thegauging of pieces of irregular section.

In the following description, it will besupposed that it is-desiredtoproceed tothe gauging of the inner or outer surfaces of pieces ofregular or irregular shape.

First it should be reminded-that the problem of gauging. pieces leadsto'certain difficulties which, up-to the'present time, have not beensolved inasatisfactor-y manner, especially inthe case of outer surfaces,such as screw threads, to be ed.

For instance, considering first this application of the invention takenby way of example, it is known to make use of ring-shaped gauges whichare constituted, as a rule, by tempered steel nuts the screw threads ofwhich should be as close as possible to the theoretical screw-thread.Now,

especially in the case of small diameters, it has 7 been foundimpossible efficiently to check the finish of this internal screwthread, because the latter cannot be brought into a position in which itcan adequately be seen by the observers eye.

On the other hand, it has been proposed, especially to replace saidrings, to have recourse to touch parts carried by a support, one of saidparts being adjustable. But such apparatus do not permit of obtaining asufficient accuracy. Furthermore, the touch parts are not easilyinterchangeable.

In' order to obviate these various drawbacks, according to the presentinvention, I have recourse, in order to test a1 kinds of surfaces, to aplurality of elements carried by a common support in an adjustable andinterchangeable manner, under geometrical conditions which are definedin a very accurate manner, the whole being preferably devised in suchmanner that said elements can, in testing position, come into contactwith the surfaces to be tested at a certain number of points (at leastthree) regularly distributed along a section of said surfaces.

For instance, if it is supposed that the surfaces to be gauged areexternalcylindrical surfaces, that is to say, for example, either smoothsurfaces,- such as those of shafts or spindles, or threaded surfacessuch as that of a screw, I have found that it is advantageous, forcarrying out the method according to the invention, to have recourse toa device such as will be hereinafter described with reference tov thedrawings.

This device essentially comprises a ring I (Figs. 1 to 4), or any othersupport of the same kind, made of a metal sufficiently hard and providedwith at least three housing 2, for instance identical. These housingsare made with the highest desirable accuracy both concerning theirrespective dimensions and their relative positions on the metal ring.

For instance, as shown by the drawings, these housings are radiallydisposed and equidistant from one another, that is to say at 120 fromone another.

Elements or touch parts are then mounted in said housings, consistingfor instance of steel cylindrical blocks 3 fitting closely in saidhousings. These part 3 might also be made of prismatic shape, but thecylindrical shape has been found to be more advantageous becauseitpermits eventually of adjusting the angular position of parts 3 abouttheirrespective axes. Parts3 have been previously provided by machiningwith testing or gauging surfaces I3, which will be, for instance, in theform of screw threads if it is desired togauge a screw, or of smoothshape if it is desired to check smooth surfaces such as shaftsorspindles, or other parts having smooth surfaces,

The device according to the invention further includes means forperforming the adjustment of said parts 3 according to the dimensions ofthe parts to be checked. 7

Concerning the last mentioned means, I may, according to a firstembodiment of the invention which corresponds to the simplest method,make them in such manner that the touch parts are individuallyadjustable.

According to one of the many possible oonstructions which may be usedfor this purpose, said means are made as follows:

Each element 3 is subjected to the action of a screw 4 adapted to bemore or less screwed in ring I or in a part carried by said ring, forinstance an outer ring 9.

Furthermore means are provided for the look-- ing of elements 3 in theirposition of adjustment. In the example illustrated by the drawings,these means consist of pins 5 adapted tobe laterally applied againstelements 3 by means of screws 6, said pins being introduced into themass of ring I through housings 1 when the parts are assembled and beingprovided with grooves 8 adapted to fit on the outer surface of elements3, which are supposed to be cylindrical.

In this way, I obtain, according to the construction illustrated byFigs. 1 to 3 inclusive, a device which works as follows:

' Supposing for instance that it is desired to gauge threaded rods whichare to have a given diameter and pitch, I make use of a ring I of thetype above described and of touch parts provided with threads of saidpitch. I first loosen the locking means 5 above described. Then I engagethe whole on a threaded piece constituting the model. The touch partsare then pressed against the threads of this model piece. Said touchparts take by themselves the proper inclination, especially when theirbody is of cylindrical shape. Then the whole is locked in the positionthus occupied. The ring is then ready to be utilized for gaugingpurposes in the same manner as the usual threaded rings used for gaugingpurposes.

If it is desired, as it isthe case in practice, to have a certaintolerance, corresponding to two different diameters, to with the maximumand the minimum, it'is of course easy to make use of two rin spreviously adjusted on two model pieces having these respectivediameters.

It will be readily understood that such rings have considerableadvantages among which the following may be cited:

a. They are easy to adjust, and therefore the same ring can be utilizedat will for all the diameters of a given range of diameters;

b. It is possible to extend their application to the gauging of piecesof any shape whatever, such for instance as cams as shown at [0 in Fig.9;

c. The touch parts such as 3 can be interchanged;

d. It is possible to machine the testing surfaces as accurately as itmay be desired.

Concerning this last mentioned characteristic, it has been explainedabove that, in existing threaded rings, it was very dificult veryaccurately to machine the inner testing surfaces of these rings. On thecontrary, with the method according to the present invention, thisdifficulty is avoided since these surfaces are carried by removableparts;

It is then advantageous to have recourse, for this machining operation,to another feature of the invention according to which the touch partsare fitted, during this operation,,upon a suitable support in angularpositions corresponding exact- 1y to the positions they are to occupyduring the gauging operation, but by turning them in such manner as tofacilitate the machining, that is to say in particular in such mannerthat the surfaces to be maChined are, turned outwardly.

For instance, supposing that it is desired to make rings for thechecking of external threads,

the support for the machining operation is constituted by a mandrel suchas II (Figs. and 6) provided at the periphery thereof with a pluralityof housings I2 which are perfectly alined and equidistant, in which theelements 3 intended to constitute the touch parts are fitted with themaximum accuracy.

After these parts 3 have been fitted in position, the system is readyfor the machining of the portions I3 of said parts so as to form screwthreads thereon, after which the threads thus obtained are duly checked.The touch parts are then detached from the support and they are thenmounted, in inverse position, on a ring such as shown at I.

Of course it is advantageous, for large scale production, to fit onmandrel H the greatest possible number of elements to be machined, thisnumber being a multiple of that of the touch parts to be mounted on ringI. It sufiices suitably to number these elements so as to be able, aftertheir machining, to distinguish those to be fitted on the same ring.

If the mandrel is, for instance, capable of supporting six touch parts,said parts will serve to fit two rings, each set corresponding to a ringincluding parts mounted at 120 from one another. For instance, the partsof the first set will be rziumbered I, 3, 5, and those of the second setWhen the numbering order is the same as that in which the threading hasbeen performed, the threads reproduced after the mounting of the partson ring I (in the direction opposed to their direction on the mandrel II) are in the same direction, while they are in the opposed direction ifthe numbering order has been modified (right pitch and left pitch).

Of course, the same method of machining can also be utilized for thepreparation of touch parts with external testing surfaces, for thegauging of inner threaded parts, bores, etc.

The gauging device according to the invention may further include, inthis case (Fig. 4) with a ring such as I (or any equivalent part), asuitable support for said ring adapted tobe easily held in the :hand,for instance a handle I4 (Fig. 8) such as provided in plug gauges.

In the various. examples of devices according to the invention whichhave been above described, with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, the touchparts are individually adjustable on their support such as I.

But it is very advantageous to have recourse to another feature of theinvention according to which the adjustment means are made in suchmanner that they permit, for each adjustment operation, of giving thetouch parts displacements which are exactly identical and preferablysimultaneous.

Such a construction permits not only of accelerating the adjustmentoperations but also of increasing the accuracy thereof. In particular,it will be understood that the various surfaces limited by the testingsurfaces of the gauging device in their various adjustment positionswill be geometrically and accurately similar. This will be the case, inparticular, of surfaces such as a and b (Figs. 1 and 4) corresponding tothe maximum and minimum dimensions admissible for the piece to betested.

In order to carry out this construction, I may make use of any suitablekinematic means, in-

'cluding for instance levers, cams, etc., but it should be wellunderstood that it is advantageousto proceed in such manner that theadjustment and then the locking in the desired position can beautomatically obtained as a result of the displacement of the supportingpiece such as I, or of any other part annexed thereto and which isreadily accessible.

Figs. '7 and 8 disclose embodiments of such kinematic means, accordingto which I make use of parts adapted to slide on one another along planesurfaces, which ensures a high accuracy in the guiding of said parts.

Furthermore, in the embodiments illustrated by these views, according toanother feature of the present invention, the test surfaces are formedon pieces 3 which are disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of thesurface to be tested. Owing to such an arrangement, it is possible torender it particularly easy to have access to the surfaces to be testedwhen the latter are provided with shoulders (for instance, in the caseofbolts, access to the threaded portion adjoining the head of said nuts.

According to these embodiments, and supposing that it is desired forinstance to obtain a device of the kind of gauging rings, this device ismade as follows:

a. As in the precedingly described embodiments I make use of a body I ofannular shape, in which housings 2 are formed obliquely, in order toreceive the test pieces 3, the active surfaces of which are machined ina suitable manner;

I). Also as in the above described embodiments, these test pieces arecombined With means for imparting thereto the desired displacements, butin'the construction that is being considered these means are adapted toact simultaneously on all the test pieces by exerting efforts (forinstance parallel to'the axis of body I) permitting, owing to thereactions due to the obliquity of the axes of housings 2, to move thetest pieces either outwardly or'inwardly with respect to their supportso as to adjust their positions.

The means in question include for instance the following elements:

On the one hand, two annular elements, I5 and I6, adapted to fit inannular grooves I1 and I'l of body I and, for atleast one of them, in asuitable notch I9 provided in the corresponding side of test pieces 3;these annular elements I5 and I 6 are in contact with the test pieces 3along perfectly rectified surfaces located in planes at right angles tothe axis of symmetry of body 1; and

On the other hand, two outer rings or boxes 20 and 2| respectivelyadapted to screw on screw threads carried by body I and thus to permit,according to the direction in which the screwing is effected, to moveboth of the annular elements I5 and I6 either in one direction or in theother, the screwing in one direction causing the test pieces 3 to moveoutwardly from the support while the screwing in the opposed directioncauses said pieces to move inwardly.

The whole-may advantageously be completed by indicating means adapted tomark any position of adjustment. These last mentioned means are forinstance constituted, as shown by Fig. 7, by a ring 23 adapted to besecured to body I (for instance in an adjustable position, by means of afixation screw 23).. This ring 23 is provided with a graduation 24adapted to cooperate with at least one index 25 carried for instance byone of the housings 20, 2I. Of course, the

whole may be completed by any suitable Vernier system.

The operation of such a system is easy to understand and takes place inthe following man- In order to gauge screw threads of a certaindiameter, it suflices to bring the whole into the correspondingadjustment position. This result can be obtained either by making use ofa threaded model piece against which the test pieces are brought intocontact by suitable displacements of annular boxes 20, 2|, after whichthe position obtained is read on scale 24, or by directly bringing index25 opposite a given number of said graduated scale 24 if the numbercorresponding to the desired diameter is known in advance. or course,two devices of this kind are prepared, corresponding to the maximum andminimum values of the diameter. These devices are then utilized in thesame manner as the usual gauging rings.

In this way, I obtain a particularly accurate gauging, owing inparticular to the fact that the test contacts are adjusted through thecooperation of plane surfaces with one another. Of course, it should bewell understood that these last mentioned surfaces might be made of anyother arrangement.

On the other hand, each of the composite devices above described mightbe made for a predetermined range of diameters, the importance of thisrange being proportional to the displacement of the adjustment partssuch as 20, 2|. This total possible displacement is represented in Fig.7 by the sum of distances at and y.

All that has been above explained concerning devices of the kindillustrated by Fig. 7 applies to devices for testing inner surfaces(inner screwthreads, bores, etc.) and Fig. 8 shows a plug gauge basedupon the same principle and including the same essential elements as thegauging device of Fig. 7.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the boxes and 2| of Fig. 7 are replaced bythe body 20 of the plug and an external ring H The graduated scale isfor instance provided on ring I at 24 and the index or other markingmeans on disc 2 I at 25 Whatever be the particular embodiment of theinvention that is chosen, I obtain a device for testing any surface theoperation and advantages of which result sufficiently clearly from thepreceding explanations for making it unnecessaryto enter into a furtherdescription thereof.

However, some of these advantages are partic ularly important and it isbelieved necessary specifically to cite them:

The device according to the invention makes it possible, for the variousreasons above set forth to obtain the maximum, accuracy while reducingthe time necessary for performing a given operation;

It is possible, with the device according to the invention andespecially with the embodiments permitting an identical and simultaneousadjustment of the test, elements, to produce, by means of said elements,a Whole range of similar geometrical figures,; even when these elementsare to cooperate with surfaces of highly irregular shape;

With devices according to the invention it is possible to constitute,with two rings or two plugs, a maximum and a minimum apparatus which canbe neutralized as long as necessary for other .dimensions .within therange of the apparatus;

The device according to the invention makes it possible to measure acircular body not by its diameter but by a plurality of pointsdistributed over its periphery, whereby it is possible to ascertainwhether this body is truly round or not;

It is possible, with devices according to the invention, especially inthe case of oblique test pieces such as shown by Figs. 7 and 8, to reachpoints which are difiicult to have access to through the prior methods;

It is possible to produce in quantity the gauging devices according tothe invention, with the maximum of accuracy in the machining of the testsurfaces;

It is also possible, according to the invention, to reconstitute intonew state worn devices, owing to the fact that the pieces areinterchangeable;

In a general manner, while Ihave, in the above description, disclosedwhat I deem to be practical and eiiicient embodiments of the presentinvention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limitedthereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, dispositionand form of the parts without departing from the principle 'of thepresent invention as comprehended Within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A device which comprises in combination a cylindrical supportprovided with a plurality of housings oblique with respect to the axisof said su ort, blocks slidably fitted in said housings, the end facesof said blocks being adapted to constitute active surfaces, meanscarried by said support for determining th position of said blocks withrespect to said support, and means for locking said blocks in anydesired positions in said housings.

2. A device of the type described which comprises, in combination, acylindrical support provided with oblique holes in the peripheralportion thereof, blocks slidable in said holes, annular grooves formedin said support on either side of said holes respectively, annularelements adapted to fit in said grooves and slidable therein in theaxial direction of said support, said blocks being provided each with atleast one notch adapted to accommodate one of said annular elements, thecylindrical surface of said support being screwthreaded and, two annularparts engaging on the threads of said support and adapted to bearagainst said annular elements for displacing them in their grooves,respectively.

3. A device of the type described which comprises in combination, acentral ring provided with oblique holes in the peripheral portionthereof, blocks slidable in said holes, annular grooves formed in theside faces of said ring respectively, annular elements adapted to fit insaid grooves and slidable therein in the axial direction of said ring,said blocks being provided each with at least one notch adapted toaccommodate one of said annular elements the outer surface of said ringbeing screw-threaded, and two annular parts engaging on the threads ofsaid ring and adapted to bear against said annular elements respectivelyfor displacing them in their grooves.

4. A device of the type described which comprises, in combination, acentral ring provided with oblique holes in the peripheral portionthereof, blocks slidable in said holes,- the inner ends of said blocksforming active surfaces, annular grooves formed in the side faces ofsaid ring, respectively, annular elements adapted to fit in said groovesand slidable therein in the axial direction of said ring, said blocksbeing provided each with at least one notch adapted to accommodate oneof said annular elements, the outer surface of said ring beingscrew-threaded, and two annular parts engaging on the threads of saidring and adapted to bear against said annular elements respectively fordisplacing them in their grooves.

5. A device of the type described which comprises, in combination, acentral ring provided with oblique holes in the peripheral portionthereof, blocks slidable in said holes the outer ends of said blocksforming active surfaces, annular grooves formed in the side faces ofsaid ring respectively, annular elements adapted to fit in said groovesand slidable therein in the axial direction of said ring, said blocksbeing provided each with at least one notch adapted to accommodate oneof said annular elements, the outer surface of said ring beingscrew-threaded and two annular parts engaging on the threads of saidring and adapted to bear against said annular elements respectively fordisplacing them in their grooves.

6. A device of the type described which comprises, in combination, acylindrical support provided with oblique holes in the peripheralportion thereof, blocks slidable in said holes, annular grooves formedin said support on eit er side of said holes respectively, annularelements adapted to fit in said grooves and slidable therein in theaxial direction of said support, said blocks being provided each with atleast one notch adapted to accommodate one of said annular elements, thecylindrical surface of said support being screw-threaded, two annularparts engaging on the threads of said support and adapted to bearagainst said annular elements for displacing them in their grooves,respectively and means for marking different relative positions of saidannular parts with respect to said support.

7. A device of the type described which comprises, in combination, acylindrical support provided with oblique holes, in the peripheralportion thereof, blocks slidable in said holes, annular grooves formedin said support on either side of said holes respectively, annularelements adapted to fit in said grooves and slidable therein in theaxial direction of said support, said blocks being provided each with atleast one notch adapted to accommodate one of said annular elements,

the cylindrical surface of said support being screw-threaded, to annularparts engaging on the threads of said support and adapted to bearagainst said annular elements for displacing them in their grooves,respectively and adjustable means for marking different relativepositions of said annular parts with respect to said support.

8. A device of the type described which comprises, in combination, acentral ring provided with oblique holes in the peripheral portionthereof, blocks slidable in said holes, annular grooves formed in theside faces of said ring respectively, annular elements adapted to fit insaid grooves and slidable therein in the axial direction of said ring,said blocks being provided each with at least one notch adapted toaccommodate one of said annular elements, the outer surface of said ringbeing screw-threaded, two annular parts engaging on the threads of saidring and adapted to bear against said annular elements respectively fordisplacing them in their grooves, a scale carried by said ring and anindex carried by one of said annular parts, so as to permit of markingany relative position of said elements with respect to each other.

9. A device of the type described which comprises, in combination, acentral ring of rectangular cross section and having holes thereinextending from the outer to the inner peripheries, the axes of saidholes being disposed in radial planes and extending diagonallytherethrough Y at 45 to the side faces of said ring, blocks slidable insaid holes, the outer ends of said blocks constituting surface engagingmeans, the side faces of said ring respectively having annular groovesof rectangular cross section formed therein, annular elements ofrectangular cross section adapted to fit in said grooves and slidabletherein in the axial direction of said ring, said blocks being providedeach with at least one right angle notch adapted to be engaged by one ofsaid annular elements, one side of said notch being parallel to the sidesurfaces of said ring, the outer surface of said ring being screwthreaded, and two annular parts engaging on the threads of said ring andadapted to bear against said annular elements respectively for displacinthem in their grooves and for locking them in any selected displacedposition.

LEON E. M. VAN DEN KIEBOOM.

